Despite the growing number of electric and hybrid cars on our roads, there are still people among us (especially if you use your car for business) who are concerned about their driving range and the accessibility of charging points.
Those concerns can be particularly acute for fleet managers or business owners with a million other things to take care of, and it may seem like there’s a risk associated with switching gas. But advances in battery technology and significant investments in charging infrastructure in recent years have made the electric or hybrid option increasingly viable (and potentially even profitable) for companies. So what should you look for if you want to increase your battery travel time?
Have you thought about a plug-in hybrid?
Firstly, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is worth considering. These have rechargeable batteries and gasoline engines; very few run on diesel. They can be plugged in and recharged at both home and public charging points and can now offer impressive pure electric range.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), on the other hand, rely on the movement of the car to generate electricity, with battery power activated to reduce gasoline consumption and emissions. They cannot be recharged by plugging them in.
The latest plug-in models demonstrate how far the technology has come, with impressive range and battery capacity, plus fast charging capabilities. “The Škoda Superb estate, for example, is capable of traveling up to 84 miles in electric mode*” says Alan Barrowman, national director of contracting and leasing at Škoda. This mileage also entitles drivers of company vehicles to the 5% benefit in kind (BiK) tax, he adds.
The load is changing
For PHEV drivers who want to limit the amount of gasoline (or diesel) they use, the charging network is crucial. Fortunately, the number of public charging points is growing rapidly. the united kingdom Point 50,000 It was installed in October 2023 at a service station in Weston-super-Mare and the pace of installation continues to grow. This year there was 68,273 electric vehicle charging points across the UK at the end of August, according to data company Zapmap. This, says Zapmap, which has monitored vehicle charging points since 2014, represents a year-on-year increase of 41%. And this figure does not include charging points in homes or workplaces, which are estimated at more than 700,000.
Charging points provide one of two types of power: alternating current (AC), like that used in homes, or direct current (DC). However, EV batteries can only store energy in DC form, so when connected to an AC charger, the current must be converted, which can take some time. However, if a vehicle can use DC charging points in addition to AC (like the new Škoda Superb), charging can be much faster. Skoda estimates that the Superb can recharge from 10 to 80% of the battery capacity in just 26 minutes using DC**.
count the costs
Of course, driving a PHEV has economic and environmental benefits. It is possible to charge any electric vehicle from a standard three-point socket, but owners also have the option of installing a dedicated wall charger (starting at around £800), although off-street parking is required.
The average wall charger provides an electrical current of 7.2 kW, compared to 2.3 kW from a normal socket, meaning a car like the Superb could be charged in around three and a half hours.
“Several energy companies offer special rates for charging electric vehicles at home,” says Barrowman. “This means a car could cost as little as 7p per kWh.. For a car like the Superb with a 25kW battery, the cost of a full charge at this rate is £1.75. So while using the electric battery, driving the car costs about 2p per mile.”
If you don’t have a driveway, all is not lost: the highest concentrations of public chargers are in urban areas; Zapmap research indicates that Greater London, for example, is home to more than 21,000 public chargersand density is also increasing across the country. After all, even expensive properties may only have limited access to off-street parking.
As with gas stations, the cost of public charging points varies, but many charging point providers offer more advantageously priced subscriptions. Currently, networks such as Pod Point and Connected Curb have installed a combined total of almost 15,000 charging points across the country. While charging at home reduces the cost of transportation, it pays to be price sensitive if you need to use a public charging point during your trip. For a typical midsize car, you should pay less than about 40 pence per kWh to make it cheaper than running on gasoline or diesel.
Naturally, as consumer demand continues to grow, so will electric vehicle charging infrastructure. For those who drive long distances regularly, a PHEV can be a big step towards a greener driving future.
*Max. Official WLTP electric range for Superb PHEV SE technology based on a full charge. For comparison purposes, it may not reflect real-life driving.
**Charging times will depend on several factors including temperature, battery condition, condition and capabilities of the charging unit and power source. Actual charging time will vary depending on battery charge level as well as environmental conditions. Charging times will also be affected by the charging curve; For example, once the charge exceeds 80%, charging will slow down to protect the longevity of the battery.